Don’t stand around my grave and cry

“Don’t stand around my grave and cry” by Don Fortner

1. When I have breathed my final breath
      And dropped this robe of flesh in death,
    When my appointed work is done
      And my allotted time is gone,
    Don’t stand around my grave and cry –
      I’ll not be there; I did not die.

2. My Savior came to call me home,
      And I with Him to heav’n have gone!
    Now I am free from sin and pain,
      And with the glorified I reign!
    Don’t stand around my grave and cry –
      I’m glorified! I did not die!

3. Seated with Jesus on His throne,
      Glorified by what He has done,
    I am a trophy of His grace;
      Rejoicing, I behold His face.
    Don’t stand around my grave and cry –
       I am with Christ! I did not die!

4. My body lies beneath the clay
      Until the resurrection day;
    In that day when Christ comes again,
      Body and soul unite again!
    Don’t stand around my grave and cry –
      Rejoice with me! I did not die!

More of what's online

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

19 Jokes only Grammar Nerds will understand
11 Sleep Habits of Successful People
Amish Girl, 10, Won't Be Forced to Have Chemo, Judge Rules
FBC Oxford, Miss., members apologize for 1968 vote banning black members
Lead by Influence, Not by Command
Oxford Baptists apologize for 1968 vote banning black members
Religious diversity is increasing at the office, and so are pitfalls

7 Links regarding Sermons

Last Sunday I posted a few quotes about sermons. This Sunday I supply 7 links to writings on the topic of sermons. The posting of these links does not mean I agree with the things written. But I believe that will incite some thought on the topic. There is lot of information on the world wide web about sermons, and the expository sermon seems to be what curries the most favor at the present time. Too often, in my opinion, discussion about sermons are mostly logical extrapolations of what teachers think we ought to do, and do not investigate the actual sermons recorded in the New Testament.

A Model Sermon
Five Features of Preaching in the Book of Acts
Have You Read the Oldest Christian Sermon Outside of the New Testament?
Preaching in the Book of Acts
Scriptural preaching, without notes
True New Testament Preaching
Taking the Text Test

In addition, I recommend All the Sermons of Acts: a study course of twenty-six expository lessons by James W. Griffith (Baptist Sunday School Committee, 1966) -- if you can find it.

100

If my Dad were still alive, today would be his 100th birthday.

The body of Christ at Sandy Valley

I have created, in my mind at least, a body of Christ in the fictional community of Sandy Valley. I hope monthly to tell a humorous story of the congregation, hopefully mixed with a little "moral" to the story. These stories include some "church jokes" that have been "in the air" for years, some adaptations of real incidents (with names changes to protect the innocent and the guilty), and some which may be combinations of both. These will be stories of conference (business meetings), visits of the pastor to his congregation, and more. I'll leave it to the reader to get both the humor and the moral. I hope to succeed in writing well enough for that to happen. If any of you readers would give your feedback, I would appreciate it. Here are some of the people and places in my stories so far. Lord willing, I will begin shortly and keep it up as enabled.

Members of Sandy Valley
Reverend Nebbish Peacock, pastor of the Sandy Valley congregation
Sister Mary Peacock, wife of the good reverend Peacock
Elder Poden Tate, an elder in Sandy Valley
Deacon Richard "Dick" Tate, brother of Poden
Sister Hessie Tate, wife of Dick Tate
Deacon Spencer "Speck" Tate, brother of Dick and Poden
Deacon Hod Dobbs
Deacon Tal Goodnews, oldest deacon in the church
Noah Goodnews, son of Tal Goodnews
Deacon Drew Drewery
Newley Drewery, son of Drew Drewery
Ellis Woodenby, a member of Sandy Valley
Sister Dinah Kitchens, a member of Sandy Valley
Sister Susie Stuflotz, a member of Sandy Valley
Sister Patricia Swaggin, a member of Sandy Valley
Widow Feliticia Douger, a wealthy widow at Sandy Valley
Widow Alma Popper, a poor widow in the congregation
Sister Doola Lang, a member of Sandy Valley

Other people and places
Sandy Valley, the community where it all happens
Hayden Bluff, a town in the next county
Possum Creek, a nearby community some 10 miles from Sandy Valley
Oak Ridge, a nearby community up the hills from Sandy Valley
Fondren Gailey, a local bachelor under suspicion
Serena Lang, a woman of less than sparkling repute; sister-in-law of Doola Lang
Sister Sarah Sweets, an Oak Ridge freewill church member
Reverend Manuel Manly, pastor of the Oak Ridge freewill church
Reverend Rube Askew, former pastor of Possum Creek

6 points about church membership and church rolls

Should we have church membership and church membership rolls? Some think this is traditional, outmoded, and/or unscriptural. Is this taught in the Bible? Notice 6 general heads related to this topic.

1. Bible references to Christians as “in” and “of” particular congregations.
Phebe was a servant of the church of Cenchrea (Rom. 16:1). Certain prophets and teachers were in the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1). Saul/Paul attempted to join the disciples in Jerusalem (Acts 9:32). The elders at Ephesus were identified by the church where they had oversight (Acts 20). The saints in Philippi were a church with bishops and deacons, an identifiable people who communicated with Paul “concerning giving and receiving” (Cf. Phil. 1:1; 4:15).

2. Biblical teaching of church discipline.
The biblical authority of church discipline is placed in the hands of the local congregation. The right to discipline indicates the role of relationship between the church and the one disciplined. Matthew 18:17 and 1 Corinthians chapter 5 are good examples of local expressions of discipline of local Christians who were known locally. Their actions or indiscretions are known and the discipline applied was known as well. When certain men “which went out from us (Jerusalem)” sowed discord in the churches, the church at Jerusalem met in counsel to resolve the situation.

3. Biblical role of pastoral leadership.
Hebrews 13:7 and 17 exhorts Christians to remember and obey “them that rule over you.” The exercise of spiritual leadership is localized and carried out in the locality where local Christians are to follow the spiritual leadership. Peter exhorted the scattered elders to whom he wrote to feed the flock of God which is among you – those particular Christians in the particular places they were (I Pet. 5:2). So were the Ephesian elders to feed the flock in a particular place where God had placed them.

4. The exercise of spiritual gifts.
The nature of spiritual gifts localized in the individual Christians who are gifted mandate exercise among “local” Christians. One cannot edify those who lived 100 years past, or are yet 100 years in the future. Those who are afar off can benefit from them only in a minimal way. God’s placement in the body ordains exercise of gifts in that place.

5. The letters to the churches. 
In Revelation chapters 1-3, letters are written to seven uniquely identified churches, each of which are addressed, praised, warned and/or reprimanded individually. Other church letters are addressed to specific people in a specific place concerning their specific situation.

6. Final miscellaneous thoughts. 
We are to know them that labor among us (1 Thess. 5:12). The number of the names together of the Jerusalem church were mentioned by Luke (Acts 1:15). Those that gladly received the word and were baptized were added to the church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:41).

Much that is “traditional” and unnecessary – and sometimes unscriptural – has grown up around the idea of church membership, church rolls, and church letters. That is no reason to throw the baby out with the bath-water. A church is an identifiable group of baptized Christians who gather together in one place.

A lynx is not a links, but these 7 are

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

Cat helps teach baby to walk
Church Membership: Do I Stay or Do I Go Now?
Family dog helps alert parents to abusive baby sitter
Florida pastor faces felony after threats to burn Korans on 9/11
If I Could Just Sit With You Awhile
Personality Doesn't Determine Leadership Ability
Southern Baptist Convention Bars Military Chaplains From Officiating Same-Sex ‘Weddings’

The Valley of the Shadow

It is appointed unto men once to die. But before we meet that appointment we may on numerous occasions walk through valleys where death casts its foreboding shadow. King David, after he had served his nation 40 years, became sick and died. Many times before death his eyes caught a view of the shadow death cast.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Death due to unintended consequences
David was made to mourn deaths of those from outside his inner circles -- death that had resulted from his actions and decisions. What misery of mind to acknowledge the unintended consequences to the priest Abiathar, "I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house (1 Samuel 22:22)." Uzzah's death before the ark at first angered David. Then he realized his complicity in the matter by not transporting the ark properly (Cf. 2 Samuel 6:8; 1 Chron. 15:2). 

The death of friends and family
The hurt of the death of friends and family is a profoundly deep wound not soon healed. The Bible tells the tale of several such gut-wrenching moments in David's life. The death of his close friend and confidant Jonathan touched him profoundly -- "How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan." The loss of his sons, a baby, Amnon -- especially Absalom  -- was a special burden. "And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" The mournful song of regret pours forth from his tongue in deep anguish.

The imminent death of one's self
From shepherd to soldier to king, David had not a few run-ins with the shadow of death. Out in the wilds herding and defending his father's sheep, he neared the paw of the lion and the bear, and was delivered. 1 Samuel 17:37 "David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." As a youth in the shadow of a giant who had been a soldier from his youth, David stared into death's shadow and was again delivered. David as soldier in Saul's army conquered the foe time and again. As a fugitive from Saul's regime, as a kingly leader of his armies, as an Absalomic exile from his own throne, and as a scofflaw of the 7th and 8th commandments, David knew the meaning of imminent death and saw the long shadow of its approach, only to see God turn it aside. 1 Samuel 20:3 "And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death."

Yes, it is appointed unto men once to die. As far as we know, at any given moment, there is but one step between us and death. But if God be with us, there is no cause to fear. Death is the door by which we exit this world and enter the next. 

Psalm 56:11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain!

Links to choose for news and views

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

Dad beats up daughter's naked Peeping Tom; could face more charges than perv
How Important is the Doctrine of the Church?
Meet the Family That Shuns Technologies Introduced After 1986
Pastoral Pitfalls: 6 Guidelines for Relationships with Women
The Elliott Controversy & the 1963 BF&M: A 50-Year Retrospective
Uncle arrested in death of 7-year-old Willow Long
Virginia county library system destroyed 250,000 of its own books
Women as Prophets and Teachers
Women In The Church: In Three Parts
-

6 tongue-talking regulations

...that are often ignored today.

1 Corinthians 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

Speaking in tongues was not to be forbidden in the early church, but it was regulated.

1. Speaking in an unknown tongue was limited to three speakers at the most. (v. 27)
2. Speaking in an unknown tongue was "by course," that is, one at the time rather than all at once or speaking over one another. (v. 27)
3. Speaking in an unknown tongue required interpretation for the edifying of the body, and silence if there were no interpreter. (v. 27-28)
4. Speaking in an unknown tongue required individual self-control and order (v. 32-33,40)
5. Speaking in an unknown tongue was prohibited for the women in the church meetings. (v. 34-35)
6. Speaking in an unknown tongue is not spiritual if done outside of or contrary to the commandments of the Lord. (v. 37)

[All verse references are found in 1 Corinthians chapter 14.]

What's online?

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

10 American Habits Brits Will Never Understand
Are you a Calvinist? Rethinking Theological Labels
Baptistdistinctives.org
Christian baker closes shop under pressure from gay activists
Fake Foods You Are Eating
Family with epileptic son touched after stranger pays for dinner, sends kind note
How to be Polemical without Being a Downright Nasty Person
Paul’s Mission and His Partners in Ministry
Scattered Saints - the Church Spreads

7 Omnis of God

Omni is a prefix that means all, every, everywhere, and is used in the formation of compound words. This prefix is often attached with words that describe God, for God is omni, all in all.

According to the Bible, God is: 

1. Omnibenevolent, always doing good. Everything that God does is good, without exception. Omnibeneficent is also used to describe the same quality. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, James 1:17. (Cf. also Psalm 18:30; 19:7; Romans 8:28; I John 4:8)

2. Omnific or omnificent, all-creating. The Lord hath made all things...Proverbs 16:4. Everything was made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made, John 1:3. This word is rarely used today, but see Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” Omnificent is another adjective with the same or similar meaning – “creating all things; having unlimited powers of creation.” See Genesis 1; Psalm 33:6; Revelation 4:11.

3. Omnipotent, almighty. God is infinite in power. He possesses unlimited authority and power. Cf. Job 42:2; Daniel 4:35; John 19:11. Even the powers that be are ordained of God.

4. Omnipresent, being all places at all times; present everywhere at the same time. Read Psalm 139:7-9; Hebrews 4:13; Psalm 33:13-14; and Isaiah 57:15.

5. Omnipure, altogether pure, free from anything degrading or sinful. God is altogether holy without mixture or taint of sin. He is unique, separate and distinct from all. 1 Samuel 2:2; Revelation 4:8.

6. Omniscient, having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things. This can also be described as omnipercipient – perceiving everything – though the former word is almost always used. God knows all things (1 John 3:20). Psalm 147:5, His understanding in infinite. Job 28:24. 

7. Omni. Period. God is all in all. Ephesians 1:23 ...him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

God is so omni that the English language doesn’t have enough omni-words to describe Him!!

These words are usually found in theological discussions, and a few may be coined by theologians rather than words with a long dictionary history, e.g. omnibenevolent, omnipure.

Silence, ye troubl’d waves, and thou Deep, peace
Said then th’ Omnific Word, your discord end:
Nor staid, but on the Wings of Cherubim
Uplifted, in Paternal Glorie rode
Farr into Chaos, and the World unborn;
For Chaos heard his voice: him all his Traine
Follow’d in bright procession to behold
Creation, and the wonders of his might
Then staid the fervid Wheeles, and in his hand
He took the golden Compasses, prepar’d
In Gods Eternal store, to circumscribe
This Universe, and all created things
John Milton – Paradise Lost, in Book 7, Line 217

8 more quotes

"We are not sufferers in the arena; we are spectators in the grandstand. We have come a long way from the catacombs!" -- Vance Havner

"Church: The perfect place to not be perfect." -- copied

"Books inform. The Bible transforms."  -- copied

"Do or do not. There is no try." -- Yoda

"God inspired His Word, not our favorite systematic theology." -- Jason K. Allen

"God only gives special children to special people." -- Unknown

Hollywood definitions: "Based on a true story" -- There is a true story. We didn't tell it.

What do you say when you are comforting a grammar nazi? "There, their, they’re." -- copied

G. T. Taylor

I have made some effort to identify G. T. Taylor, who wrote The Scriptural Plan of Doing Mission Work, September 1950. Gilbert Thomas Taylor of Van Zandt and Wood Counties seems the best prospect so far. More work needs to be done to connect him to Vernon Barr, Baptists in 1950 who believe in direct missions, etc.

Gilbert Thomas Taylor on Find-A-Grave

Tyler Morning Telegraph, July 4, 1961, p. 5, section 2

22 Statements on “Missions”

THE SCRIPTURAL PLAN OF DOING MISSION WORK
[This article appeared in the September, 1950 issue of The Rock of Ages, which was edited by Vernon L. Barr. The writing was credited to G. T. Taylor. It was reprinted in The Baptist Waymark in March 1987.]

I. How to get a missionary — Luke 10:2. “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”
II. After you have prayed God to give you the missionary, it is God’s business to call them. Proof — Jer. 1:4-10.
III. Does God still call his preachers? Yes, even down unto the spirit or Gospel dispensation. Yes, God is still doing business at same old stand. Proof — Acts 13:1-4.
IV. After God calls his preachers, whom does he call upon to set them apart? Ans. It is the church. Acts 13:3; I Tim. 3:1-7; and Acts 14:23-25.
V. Who is to send them out? The church sends them out and the Holy Ghost directs them to the field of labour. Acts 13:4. “And the hand of the Lord was with them.” Acts 11:21-22.
VI. We see that the Lord does the calling and the church sets them apart unto the work in which they are called. The Holy Spirit directs — the church and the missionary both are led and directed by the Holy Spirit.
VII. Who is the Bible Superintendent of mission work? The Holy Spirit, Acts 16:4,6,7,9-11.
VIII. We see that the Holy Spirit works at both ends of the line. He says go and where to go, and forbids going. Acts 16:7-15. See Acts 8:28,31,36,39.
IX. To whom did the missionaries make their report? Ans. To the church. Acts 14:23-27.
X. The church sent them out and we find they were responsible to the body who sent them out. We find no association or Board of secretaries, but a church.
XI. To whom did the church write her letters concerning giving and receiving? Ans. To the missionary. Phil. 4:15.
XII. To whom did Paul write his letters? Ans. The church. Proof — II Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:1-4; I Thess. 1:1; Phil. 1:1-2.
XIII. In all these letters, we find the missionaries writing their letters to the church.
XIV. The churches wrote their letters directly to the missionaries (no boards, committees, secretaries of boards, or General Associations). Too, we find here everything direct from church to missionary and from missionary to the church.
XV. With whom did the church keep her missionary account, a treasurer of an Association? There was no board or an association. The church kept her account with her missionary. Proof — Phil. 4:15-18.
XVI. To whom did the church send her mission gifts? Ans. She sent them direct to the missionary on the field. Proof — Phil. 4:15,18.
XVII. We see the church sent her mission money in the most direct way. She sent it by one of her messengers — “Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsóldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.” Phil. 2:25.
XVIII. How much of the money did Paul receive and how much did Epaphroditus receive? Paul received all. Proof — Phil. 4:15-18.
XIX. Is there any plain command for us to do this work just as we see that the inspired Paul did it? Ans. There is a plain positive command for us to do it just exactly that way. Proof — Phil. 4:9, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
XX. Paul’s report of what the Philippians had done — Phil. 4:14-16.
XXI. Did Paul want all true believers to walk by the same rule and follow his examples or did he want all to select his own plan? Ans. He wanted all to be followers of him and take the inspired word and follow the examples as given by one who was inspired. Proof — Phil. 3:15-19.
XXII. Was it God’s eternal plan that this gospel should be made known by the churches, the only divine organization? Ans. Yes, that was certainly God’s purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Proof — Eph. 3:7-11. 
Numbers 22:18, “And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord God, to do less or more.”
— G. T. Taylor

Singing and Such

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

A Glimpse of Thee in the 2012 Cooper Edition
A Sacred Harp Primer with Matt Hinton
A Selection of Shape-note Folk Hymns: From Southern United States Tune Books
A Theological Outline For Indexing Music for Worship
Do shaped notes "work"?
Index to Composers, Arrangers, and Sources of Music for The Sacred Harp Cooper Edition 2012
Selecting Music for Worship (Part 1): Know the Word
Selecting Music for Worship (Part 2): Know Theology
Shape, rattle and roll: The amazing survival of shape-note singing
Singing With So-Fa Syllables
South Carolina's Lost Art: Shape-Note Music
Take notes: Church music lacks true harmony, singing experts say

Quotes on sermons, and such

“This is the age of the sermonette, and sermonettes make Christianettes.” -- Michael Green

"One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons." -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"Judas heard all Christ's sermons." -- Thomas Goodwin

“The preacher is not a chef; he's a waiter. God doesn't want you to make the meal; He just wants you to deliver it to the table without messing it up.” -- John MacArthur

“The preaching of Christ is the whip that flogs the devil.” -- Charles Spurgeon

"There is a wide difference between searching the scriptures to find a system of truth, and searching them to support one already adopted." -- The Writings of the Late Elder John Leland

The Two Church Offices

The Two Church Offices by W. S. Crawford, Wellington, Texas

The New Testament church is a local, divine organic body. It is composed of disciples of Christ who have been baptized voluntarily to carry on for Christ. Christ is its Founder, its Foundation, its Head and its law Giver. The Holy Spirit is its Superintendent and it is to do what Christ Himself commanded and authourized it to do. It is thus to be perpetuated until Christ comes again. Its permanent officers are pastor and deacons.

The New Testament names the pastor and deacons as offices in the church. In I Tim. 3:1, Paul says “If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” According to the New Testament, a bishop was the pastor of a church. I Tim. 3:10 tells us, “And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.” These are the only offices spoken of in the New Testament that are permanent.

Both of these offices are to be filled by men, not by women. Paul instructed Titus, “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly... For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God;” (Titus 1:5—7). A woman cannot be the husband of one wife, therefore cannot be ordained as pastor. Any man who has two living wives is disqualified to be pastor of a church. The deacon is also to be the husband of one wife (I Tim. 3:12). Therefore, the deacon’s office is to be filled by men.

In both of these offices men are to be ordained, and that by the authourity of the church. Paul said that he was ordained a preacher and an apostle (I Tim. 2:7). And Paul told Timothy to “neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery” (I Tim. 4:14). In Acts 6, we see the church selected seven men who were qualified for deacons, and the church placed them before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands upon them thus designating or ordaining them as deacons. We see from these scriptures that pastors and deacons are to be ordained to fill these offices, and are to be ordained by the authourity of the church.

The pastor and deacon are to be servants of the church. Not bosses, nor dictators, but servants. The pastor is to serve in spiritual things. He is to preach the word (Acts 6:4; II Tim. 4:2). He is to feed the church (John 21:15—17; Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:1,2). He is to be the teacher of the church (I Tim. 3:2; II Tim. 2:24). Paul called these things spiritual things (I Cor. 9:11). The deacons are to serve the church in temporal things. They were to see after the financial things of the church (Acts 6:3). The pastor, deacons, and all the membership of the church are instructed to work together, directed by the Holy Spirit to do the will of Christ.

The pastor is to have a divine call and the deacon is to have spiritual qualifications. The pastor is to be divinely called to preach (Acts 20:24; I Cor. 9:16). He is to have a divine call to be pastor (Eph. 4:11). He is to have a divine call to a church (Acts 20:28). The deacons are to be men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6:3). The pastor is promised a crown of glory that fadeth not away when the Chief Shepherd shall appear (I Peter 5:4). And they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus (I Tim. 3:13).

So then our labour is not in vain in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Neither is the labour and service of any member of the church lost when it is done according to the will of Christ and from a heart of love. Paul said there was a crown of righteousness for him, and not for him only but for all of them that love His appearing (II Tim. 4:8).

From The Baptist Defender, January 28, 1941 (as found in The Baptist Waymark, Vol II, No. 8  May—June 1992)

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands

Another nice hymn tune, based on Psalm 100.

Biblical prayer

God commands prayer of His people (Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; I Thessalonians 5:17), and provides His Son and Spirit for intercession (Romans 8:26, 34; Heb 7:25).

Some things for which we should pray (not intended to be exhaustive):

Pray for those that persecute you (Matt. 5:44; Luke 6:28).
Pray for God's Kingdom come and His will be done in earth (Matt. 6:10).
Pray for God to provide your daily needs (Matt. 6:11).
Pray for God's forgiveness (Matt. 6:12).
Pray for deliverance from evil (Matt. 6:13). 
Pray for children (Matt. 19:13). 
Pray that fall not into temptation (Luke 22:40; Matt. 6:13).
Pray for boldness to proclaim the word of God (Acts 4:29; Eph. 6:18-20).
Pray for the salvation of Israel (Romans 10:1). 
Pray for filling with the knowledge of God's will (Col. 1:9).
Pray for open doors to speak the gospel (Col. 4:3; 2 Thess. 3:1).
Pray for other Christians (1 Thess. 5:25; Heb 13:18) .
Pray for authorities, and all men generally (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
Pray for wisdom (James 1:5).
Pray for healing (James 5:13,16).